Chapter Twenty-One

After eating their now-cold breakfasts, Donovan pulled out his laptop from the backpack, opened it on the plastic table in the kitchenette, and connected it to the motel’s Wi-Fi. Beth pulled a chair next to him. “What are you doing?”

“I figured it was time we got to know the person who’s coming after us.” He opened a search engine and typed in Viper’s real name—Keon Roberts. The screen filled with links offering arrest reports and news articles. He clicked website after website, gathering the information. Beth leaned forward to read the facts with him. Viper had been arrested seven times since he was seventeen, and these were just the ones that were public record. The first time was for possession of marijuana. A year later, he was charged with theft. An article detailed the incident. Around Christmas, he had broken into a church and stolen all the donations. A surveillance camera had caught him. Days later, the police made the arrest. In his bedroom, they had found electronics and wrapped presents, linking him to a string of thefts that had occurred in a couple of nearby neighborhoods. He had stolen Christmas gifts that parents had worked hard to provide for their children.

“What an asshole,” Donovan spat.

Beth nodded in agreement. “It seems every year we hear about someone breaking into houses and stealing the presents right out from under Christmas trees. Makes me sick.”

Donovan scrolled down. Viper’s next arrest was for statutory rape. He had been eighteen at the time, and the girl had been fifteen. Donovan dug deeper, uncovering details about the case. According to news sources, he attacked a girl at a high school football game. At the time, he had been a senior, and she had been a freshman. He had followed her into the girl’s bathroom, grabbed her sexually, and made lewd advances. When she threatened to scream, he slammed her head into the paper towel dispenser. He shoved her into a stall, beat her until she compiled, and raped her against the stall door.

Donovan’s blood became acid as he read the details. He clicked on an image that had circulated through the media. She had a gash above her brow, stitches holding her top lip together, a black eye, and bruises along the left side of her face from Viper’s blows. Beside him, Beth covered her mouth. A before picture had been placed next to the image showing a beautiful, dark-skinned girl with shapely lips, arched brows, and high cheekbones. She had the face of a model.

A later article said the victim had dropped the charges against Viper, claiming she had consensual sex with him in the girl’s bathroom during the game, but after he left, two men came in and beat her. She said her confusion was due to a concussion. No other suspects had ever been found.

Donovan clenched his jaw. “She changed her story because he threatened her.”

Beth sighed. “Yup. No doubt it aggravated the police and her attorney, but they can’t do anything if a victim decides to change their story or drop the charges.” She pointed at the battered image of the young girl. “He could’ve been locked up for quite a while for this.”

Viper’s next offense was for DUI at nineteen. He lost his license, paid a fine, and spent a short time in jail. As Viper got older, his crimes became bolder—battery, sexual assault, and arson. Donovan froze when he read that last one. Viper and four others were arrested for setting fire to an occupied house. The men living in the house were part of known gang. They escaped the house and identified Viper as one of the men seen fleeing the premise. Two of the four other men charged with Viper plead guilty and vouched for Viper’s and the other two mens’ innocence. The fact the three of them had been there, though, had made them accomplices. Viper spent two years in jail and a year on house arrest with an additional year after that on probation.

Beth pointed at the screen. “Two men got off with Viper.” She held up her fingers. “Two. How much you wanna bet those are the same two Viper’s been hanging around with since he escaped work release? They’re bringing back past times.” Her voice lowered. “Past crimes.” She looked at him. “They’re setting these fires. Or at least the one that started right behind our house. They lured me right where they wanted me.”

Donovan put his hand on her thigh. “You’re smarter than them. You got away.” And he’d make sure they never got a chance to lure her into their trap again.

He scanned the rest of Viper’s arrest records. His most recent charges were for drug distribution, drug manufacturing, possession of illegal weapons, and resisting an officer with violence. Those were the ones Beth had a hand in when she went undercover.

Donovan lowered the laptop’s screen. “Viper has been racking up the charges and working his way up to bigger, worse crimes.”

“Like murder?”

Beth’s soft voice was like a knife to his heart. He cupped her face with his hands. “Hey, that’s not going to happen.” Her gaze avoided his. “Look at me, baby.” She let out a slow breath before shifting her gaze to his. “They’re not going to get close to you again. You’re tough and smart. I’m not going to let you out of my sight, there’s a cop car out front, and Thorn won’t let anything happen to you either.” He glanced at his closed laptop. “Although, after reading all of that, I have to question why Thorn asked you to go undercover in the first place. If he hadn’t, this wouldn’t be happening.”

Beth shook her head between his hands. “That’s not fair. I volunteered to go undercover to find out where Buck was hiding. None of this is Thorn’s fault. Or mine.” Her fingers curled around his wrists. “Or yours.”

His hands fell from her face to his lap.

“I talked to Thorn last night while you were sleeping. He has a powerful need to protect the people he cares about, and we are on that list.” She paused. “I think we’re at the top. I’m sure he regrets putting me undercover in Viper’s house now that Viper is out to get me. None of us can take that back, and I wouldn’t want to. If I hadn’t helped him, we wouldn’t have gotten Buck.”

“But if we hadn’t gone to San Francisco, Jackson Storm wouldn’t have come into our lives.” Jackson Storm and his minions would forever be at the front of Donovan’s mind for what they did to Beth.

She lay her hand on the side of his face. “But maybe we wouldn’t have fallen in love.”

He frowned at that.

“Think about it,” she urged.

Without their trip to San Francisco, they wouldn’t have bonded as much as they did, fought side by side to catch a killer, or fought through an earthquake ravaged city to find each other. Their love intensified during those post-disaster moments. If none of that had taken place, who knows where they’d be. Donovan refused to think that they wouldn’t be together now, but if they hadn’t gone through those events, would they love each other as intensely as they did now? Maybe not…

He pulled Beth’s hand from his cheek and kissed it. “You’re right.” He wished he could take back the things that hurt the two of them, but if he did, he would be erasing their entire relationship. That sobering thought made him realize he needed to let the past go. Whether he was the one who brought those things on them or not, he had to forget it. They were together. They were alive. That was all that mattered.

****

Thorn stopped by after six o’clock with a box of chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and biscuits. He also had a few files tucked under his arm. He dropped them onto the table. “Your requested files, Your Highness.”

Donovan lifted a brow as he picked through the files.

Beth held out a drumstick to Thorn. “You get cranky when you’re tired.”

Thorn grumbled. He took the drumstick and tore off a chunk with his teeth. “Let’s just say there’s no leads to Viper’s whereabouts.”

“That’s why we asked for these.” Donovan opened two of the files and lay them flat. “Take a look, Beth.”

The two files were for the men who got off the hook for the arson. Mugshots for both of the men were clipped to the front with fingerprints and pages of case details. Beth bent over to study the images. One of them had dreadlocks, and the other had a short afro. She gave a small nod. “That’s them.” Her gaze rose to Thorn as he put his hands on the table across from her. “These are the two men who were with Viper.”

Thorn lowered into one of the chairs. “That’s a lucky break.” He pulled the files to him. “Anthony Morris and Omar Morris are cousins.” He looked up. “They’re best known for arson. And they’re a bitch trying to nail down. We think they’re homeless. Always on the move.”

Fire roared through Donovan’s veins.

“My guess is Viper let these two have fun, so when he came for the two of you, the fire would look like a random attack with the rest of them. No one would think twice.”

“We did,” Beth said.

Thorn nodded. He took another bite of the drumstick. “If Viper is with these two, it may be impossible to pin his location. These two are skilled when it comes to staying hidden, undetected. They quickly ditch cars and never use the same one twice.”

“Except for the black Camaro,” Beth added. “I saw that car once before.”

Donovan’s head snapped up. He had been reading Viper’s file. “What?”

She tore off a flaky piece of biscuit and popped it into her mouth. “The day I went to Lori’s house, a black car was parked at the end of the street. When I noticed, it sped off. It rattled me, but I thought maybe it was someone just interested in seeing what happened there and felt embarrassed or ashamed they had been caught. The car I saw then was the same one they used to pick me up.”

Donovan clenched his hands on the table. “You should’ve said something.”

She lowered her fork with a few macaroni needles speared on it. “I didn’t think anything of it the first time I saw it. And yesterday, there was a lot on my mind, so I forgot. Besides, it doesn’t help us any. You gave them the license plate number, and it’s still nowhere to be found.”

That statement made Donovan’s glare shift to Thorn. “How is it possible the entire Orlando Police Force is aware of this car, but it hasn’t been spotted yet?”

“Anthony and Omar are experts at this. They’ve pushed cars into canals and ditched them at scrap yards. They don’t just swap out license plates. If they did, we’d be able to pull over every black Camaro Z/28 on the street. And, believe me, we have been.” Thorn swallowed another bite of chicken. “Investigators compared the wheel prints they found outside your garage with the wheels on the footage from my car’s dash cam. It matches.” Thorn shrugged. “I know we already figured out Viper was the one responsible for hijacking your truck, but this confirms it. We can place that car on your property. It adds another bar to his jail cell.”

After a moment of silent eating, Beth said, “If they’re so smart at ditching their cars, why did they use the Camaro multiple times?”

“Before his arrest, he drove a Dodge Viper.” The corner of Thorn’s mouth tilted up. “He’s cocky when it comes to his reputation. But considering the cousins are smart about cars, my guess is Viper liked the Camaro. He’s vain enough not to ditch a car he likes. We ran the plate, though, and it turns out it’s a fake. A damn good one, too. No one would be able to look at it and realize it isn’t real, which would be the cousins’ doing.” Thorn dusted off his hands. “The night we raided Viper’s house and arrested him, a black Camaro Z/28 was parked in the driveway. We wrote them all down to track later, if need be. I just found that connection a few hours ago. The Camaro from that night belonged to one of his buddies, Jarome Cook. Since Viper went to one of his old buddies from the day he was arrested, there’s a chance he went to more. We’re currently tracking them all down and searching their homes. So far, nothing.”

“At least it’s a start,” Beth said.

Donovan had to agree with that. It was better than nothing.

The three of them ate their chicken dinner. When Thorn finished, he got up. “Well, kids, I’m out.”

“You’re not staying?” Beth asked.

Donovan gently pinched her arm. “Don’t encourage him.”

Thorn sneered. “As much as I’d love to stop Donovan from getting any sex, I have more work to do. A new cop just took the night shift a moment ago, and the two of you are armed and dangerous. I also think I’ll be more help out there.”

“Speaking of armed and dangerous,” Donovan said. “Do you have duct tape?”

Thorn retrieved a roll of duct tape from the trunk of his car and gave it to him. Donovan held it in one hand and his holstered gun in the other. “We need to hide our guns someplace.”

“Why?” Beth asked.

“While it’s nice to have a gun right next to us, if someone comes in and tries to disarm us, it’s prudent to have them hidden from sight where only we know they are.”

Pursing her lips, Beth nodded and scanned the room. While she searched for a hiding place, Donovan went into the kitchen. He crouched by the table and pulled a strip of tape off the roll. Ducking his head, he affixed the gun in its holster to the underbelly of the table. It wasn’t in the middle, as that would be hard to reach, but within reach of the chair that had its back to the wall dividing the kitchenette and the room.

“Under the table?”

Donovan turned to see Beth and Thorn watching him. “What’s wrong with under the table?” he asked.

“Along with the toilet tank and freezer, it’s one of the most common places to hide a weapon,” Beth stated. “It’s where everyone looks.”

He crossed his arms. “Okay, Jane Bond. Where would you hide yours?”

“Give me the tape.” She held out her hand for it.

He slapped it into her palm. In the bedroom, she tugged the bed a few inches away from the wall and crawled on top of it.

“I’m liking her idea already,” Thorn said.

Donovan glared at him and was given a toothy grin.

On her knees, she ripped off a strip of tape. Slipping her hands behind the wooden headboard, she affixed her gun to the back of the headboard. She got off the bed and nodded with satisfaction. “That way we’re close to it when we’re in bed, but it’s not in the nightstand or attached to the frame underneath, which is where people check for weapons in bedrooms.”

Donovan squinted his eyes at her. “You watch too many cop shows.”

****

The next day, Thorn checked on them to—in his own words—make sure they were still alive. He looked as though he might’ve actually slept the night before, which Beth was glad about. But their request to see their house immediately put him back on edge.

“The two of you are supposed to be keeping your mugs from being seen by Viper and his henchmen.”

Beth forced a smile. “I also want to check in on my studio.”

Thorn grabbed the hair on the sides of his head. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…the two of you are a pain in my ass.” He dropped his hands. “Fine, but I need to disguise you guys and get another cop car to follow us. Before you even get close to your house or studio, we’re going to make sure the area is clear.”

Cursing under his breath, Thorn left. He was gone for thirty minutes and returned with a blonde wig for Beth and a baseball cap for Donovan. “This is the best I could do.”

Beth tucked her hair beneath the wig and stared at herself in the mirror. Bright lip stick, large sunglasses, and denim shorts completed her look. She hoped it was enough of a change to hide her identity. Donovan wore the cap and dark sunglasses. The stubble growing thickly along his jaw helped to hide the rest of his face.

Thorn checked the parking lot before telling them to go to his car. Keeping her head down, Beth walked to Thorn’s car. She did her best not to run or look around. Once inside Thorn’s car with Donovan and Thorn, her body relaxed.

They parked a few streets away from their house while the cop car escorting them went ahead to make sure it was safe to get closer. Beth examined her surroundings. Through charcoal trees, she could see the roof of their house. Relief settled over her heart; it was still standing. Even though the firefighters had the fire under control when they left, it could’ve flared up again and overpowered their efforts. The fact there wasn’t a single brush truck in the area was a good sign. The fire department was confident the fire was out.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bright flicker. She turned her head. A foot-tall flame waved at her from the woods. After growing up in Florida, she knew that hot spots were a danger with wildfires. One hot spot could start a new blaze.

“Guys, there’s a hot spot over there.” She pointed.

In the front passenger’s seat, Donovan went to open his door.

“No,” Thorn said. “The two of you are staying in this car.” He unbuckled his seat belt. “I’ll take care of it. When I get out, lock the doors.”

Thorn stepped out, and Donovan hit the locking mechanism the second Thorn’s door closed. Thorn tromped over the smoking ground to the flame. As he came closer, the flame stretched taller, as if challenging Thorn. But it was a wisp of a thing. Thorn kicked dirt and ash over it and stomped his boot over the smoldering spot until the embers were squashed. He came back to the car, and Donovan unlocked the doors for him.

Thorn’s radio sounded. “The premise is clear, but the house still needs to be checked.”

“Ten-four,” Thorn said into the radio. “We’re on the way.” He put the car in drive and drove up to their house. “Stay here while we make sure the house is clear.”

Beth fiddled with her fingers as Thorn and two other cops went through the front door with their weapons raised. Could Viper really be in there, waiting for them to get comfortable before blowing out their brains? A dozen images flashed through her mind—Donovan and her sitting side by side on the couch, two bangs sounding one right after the other, and blood spraying from their heads. Another image was the two of them asleep in bed, bang, bang, and blood pouring across their pillows. Would she ever feel safe in their house again?

Her heart raced faster as the minutes ticked by. She hadn’t heard a gunshot yet, but that didn’t stop her from fearing for Thorn’s life. Viper would put him down without a thought. And they had left their guns back at the motel room. If something went down, they wouldn’t be able to assist. They wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing.

Her palms sweated. She tried to imagine Thorn and the two cops searching their house, checking every corner, every closet, every nook and cranny. Finally, Thorn came out, leading the two cops. All three of them had their guns back in their holsters. Thorn lifted a hand and waved them to come.

Beth stepped out of the car. The smell of burnt nature assaulted her senses. On the driveway, she rotated in a full circle, taking in the charred trees and telephone poles, the blackened ground, and the sparseness. She could see the houses several streets down. All their privacy had been burned away. Seeing all the black where the fire had scorched was shocking. Her whole life, she had stood on this driveway and seen green. Even with the addition of new houses, there had always been trees and brush. Now the nature that had thrived there for so long was gone.

Hand in hand, Beth and Donovan trudged to their backyard. On the right side, a few yards of green grass stood between their house and the burnt line of where the fire ended. In the backyard, the pool was a puddle of blue plastic on the ground. Burnt splotches marred the green lawn from the pinecones that had dropped like bombs from the treetops.

“Look.” Donovan indicated a patch of woods in their backyard.

Beth’s heart lifted. Could it be? Their shoes crunched over ashes and crisp sticks as they trudged to the small section of surviving nature. They rounded a group of palmetto trees and came to a halt in front of Beth’s childhood fort. It was still standing. A smile dawned on her face. The igloo-shaped fort was made entirely of pine needles. It could’ve easily gone up in flames with a single ember, but it made it. That little miracle gave Beth hope. Smiling, she peered at the rest of the devastation and felt it would be okay. One of her memories endured, and she knew, given a couple of years, what was black now would be bursting with life again.

They walked along the other side of the house, and Beth saw, for the first time, just how close the fire had come to stealing her home. A foot was all that remained between the wall of their house and the fire’s reach. A foot. Even at a wider distance, the roof could’ve caught on fire. She stepped to the side, over the burnt ground, to take a look at the roof. Not a single smudge of black showed. The fire hadn’t been able to so much as lick a shingle. She recalled how Donovan had fought the flames with a hose and squeezed his hand. His efforts might’ve tipped the odds in their favor.

Back on the driveway, Beth gazed at her house. Happiness filled her. Once this nightmare ended, she could go back home.

A high-pitched sound made Beth’s ears perk up. She tilted her head. Was it a hawk? The call came again, but it hadn’t come from above her. It was behind her. With her arms crossed, she turned around. Her brows lowered. What was it?

Meeeeoooow.

Her head whipped to the side, and she saw Misty, Mrs. Caraway’s cat, sitting in the middle of the road. “Misty.” She hurried to the cat, picked her up, and held her to her chest. Misty’s fur was matted with dirt and smelled like smoke, but she was okay. Even her paws were clean of burns. Beth pressed her cheek to the top of the feline’s head. Tears burned the back of her eyes. This silly creature had been on her mind off and on since Misty had run off toward the fire. Beth had prayed the cat would survive, and here she was hugging the furry critter. She looked up when she heard scuffling feet approach her.

“Your cat?” Thorn scratched Misty’s head.

“No, my neighbor’s. I need to return her. I’ll be right back.”

“You can’t go by yourself. I’ll come with you.” He fell into step with her. His hand resting on his firearm didn’t escape her notice, but she ignored it as she cuddled Misty.

At Mrs. Caraway’s house, she knocked on the door. Misty purred loudly as they waited on the doormat for an answer. Beth rang the doorbell. She glanced toward the empty driveway when there wasn’t a response. “She must not have come back home yet.” She bent down and picked up the ceramic lady bug for Mrs. Caraway’s spare key. She unlocked the door, but before she could push it open, Thorn stopped her.

“Let me check first,” he said.

“This is an old lady’s house,” she reminded him.

He removed his firearm. “Just let me do my job, okay? What’s her name?”

“Mrs. Caraway.”

Thorn pushed the door open with his foot. “Mrs. Caraway, this is the Orlando P.D. I’m coming in.” He stepped inside.

Beth waited on the doormat with Misty cuddled in her arms. A few minutes later, Thorn returned. “No one here.”

Beth shut the door behind her and set Misty on the floor. She immediately ran to her food dish and began gobbling down the kibble. In the pantry, Beth found a plastic container of cat food with a scoop. She filled the bowl to the rim and put fresh water in the other dish. “There you go, little girl.” Squatting next to Misty, she petted the feline from head to tail. Her long coat was a mess. Beth picked out stickers and twigs from her fur.

“Here.”

Beth looked up. Thorn held out a cat comb. Smiling, she took it and set to work making Misty presentable for her owner’s return. Once her coat was smooth and shining again, Beth wrote a note on a flowered piece of stationary. She didn’t know whether Mrs. Caraway had a cell phone or not. If she did, Beth didn’t have the number. A note was the best thing she could do under the circumstances. After rooting through a few drawers, she found tape and stuck the note to the front door, so Mrs. Caraway would be greeted with good news when she came home.

Misty’s safe return elevated Beth’s mood even more. She smiled all the way to her studio. Corissa and Amanda were the only ones there, since it was lunch time. Beth used her key to get in. Both women stared at her as if she was an intruder.

“Excuse me, ma’am, I don’t know how you got a key, but you—” Amanda fell silent when Donovan and Thorn came in after her. A flash of fear lit Amanda’s green eyes. Beth had forgotten all about the wig she wore.

“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s Beth.”

The women blinked at her. Beth watched Amanda’s eyes skip over to the men behind her. Donovan had on a hat and dark glasses, but Thorn was the only one who still looked like himself. Recognition crossed Amanda’s face.

Corissa stepped forward. “Oh my gosh, Beth. You dyed your hair?”

“Not exactly. It’s a disguise.”

“What’s going on?” Amanda asked.

The girl knew the signs. Not coming into work and using a disguise weren’t normal actions. Amanda had employed the same tactics in the past to hide from her ex.

“We’re okay,” Beth said, wanting to reassure her, but the frown didn’t leave Amanda’s face. “How has everything been here?” She paused, knowing her next question would only deepen that frown. “Had anyone come here looking for me?”

Amanda and Corissa exchanged glances. “No,” they said together.

“I’m going to make sure the studio is secure,” Thorn said. He stepped away from them and slipped his firearm from the holster at his hip.

Amanda stared after him as he maneuvered with stealth to the back of the studio. When he was out of sight, she spun back around. “Is this about me? Has he contacted you?”

Beth took Amanda’s hands. “No. This is about me. You’re safe here. Corissa knows what to do if Damon comes around.” Corissa nodded confirmation, and Amanda’s shoulders lowered a fraction.

Thorn came back out into the main room. “Safe and sound,” he announced.

Beth nodded, liking his choice of words. Amanda’s fear probably hadn’t escaped him either. Not with his cop eyes and instincts. “Thanks, Thorn.” She couldn’t help but notice the shy smile Amanda gave him and the way Thorn seemed to freeze where he stood when they made eye contact. Damn, if there wasn’t attraction there. Beth could feel it humming in the air. She wished she could give them a shove right into each other’s arms, but it wouldn’t work that way. Baby steps. Or, more precisely, insect steps.

The five of them talked briefly. Beth asked how the classes were going and if anyone else had any fire scares. She was grateful to hear none of her other students had been threatened by the fiery beast set loose by Viper and his goons.

“I almost forgot,” Corissa said. “The other day, someone dropped off a little package for you, Beth. I put it on your desk.”

Beth’s gaze jumped to Donovan and Thorn. A package? Her heart raced. What if Viper had left her the heart of the pig he had slaughtered? Her stomach flip-flopped.

Thorn gave Amanda and Corissa a charming smile. “I actually think that’s for me. Beth and I will go and get it real fast.” He glanced at Donovan. Beth felt a silent order pass between them. Thorn didn’t want to upset Amanda and Corissa, so he wanted Donovan to stay there to show them the package wasn’t dangerous.

Beth walked to the back of the studio with Thorn matching her steps. Her gaze flicked to his holster. His hand wasn’t on his firearm, which she knew must’ve taken a lot of restraint. They turned into Beth’s office. Right there in the middle of her desk was a padded envelope. Not what she had been expecting. Her mind went wild trying to figure out what could be lurking inside it. Another dead snake? Anthrax? Or maybe it wasn’t evil, after all. It could easily be business related, like the fliers she had ordered or a bill.

She reached out for it, but Thorn snatched her hand away before she could touch it. He pulled a pair of latex gloves from his back pocket and gingerly opened the envelope. He peeked in, and his jaw tightened. His protected fingers pulled out a bloody switch blade.

Beth’s throat constricted. Was it more pig’s blood? Or would it be human blood this time? She didn’t want to know.

Thorn slipped out a note. He flipped it open. His gaze hardened.

“What does it say?”

He turned it around. Scribbled on the piece of torn paper was “UR NXT!”

Beth swallowed. “You’re next.” She nodded. “Message received.”

****

Beth and Thorn came back into the main room. Thorn held a bubble envelope, but his fingers were pinching the corner, as if he didn’t want to disturb any prints. Amanda and Corissa might not notice that, but Donovan did. His interest piqued.

Thorn held up the envelope with a smile. “Turns out it is for me. Thanks for letting us know.” He leaned casually against the counter. “If another package comes, can you let me know? Corissa, you should have my number.” He tilted his head at Amanda. “Do you still have my card?”

Amanda nodded. A blush crept across her cheeks. “I keep it on me at all times.” Her hands lifted, and her fingers pulled back the corner of her workout top. She pulled out his card. Her curves had bent it. She smiled. “Actually, I could probably use another. That way I can keep one here, and the other can be in the pocket of my normal clothes.”

Speechlessly, Thorn took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. He had to clear his throat to speak. “Well, I have to get back to work.”

“And he’s our ride,” Beth said. “So, we have to go, too. The two of you are doing a great job here while I’m gone. I wouldn’t trust The Fighting Chance to anyone else.” She hugged them.

Donovan held the door open for Beth. “Take care, ladies,” he said then closed the door.

Once they were on the sidewalk, heading to Thorn’s car, Donovan heard Thorn say, “Damn. My business cards are lucky.”

****

Beth and Donovan spent two more days locked up in the motel. On the third day, Thorn told them they were getting the boot. Despite the threat, Chief Cormac was pulling the guard after that night, and they would be free to go home in the morning.

“Do you think it’s safe?” Beth asked Thorn.

He sighed. “I can’t say for sure. Viper hasn’t shown up anywhere. Maybe I scared him enough he dropped his whole plan. Since we determined the note was delivered the day of the fire, we can’t prove he’s still after you, especially since nothing has happened since the fire.”

“That’s bullshit,” Donovan said as anger clashed inside him, raging to break free. “You know he’s not going to forget or let Beth go so easily. He’s still out there.”

Thorn wrenched his head left and right. Bones popped in his neck. “I know. Damn it, Goldwyn, I know, but my hands are tied. There’s nothing more I can do. You can pay for this room and stay here longer, and I’ll continue to check in every day, but that’s the only option we have right now.”

Beth groaned. “I don’t want to stay in this room any longer than we have to.” She peered up at Donovan. “I want to go home.”

He cupped her chin with his hand and stared into her eyes. She was tired of living this way, and so was he. “Okay,” he said. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll check out.”

Thorn got up. “I’ll be back then to take you home. Sleep tight.”

Donovan locked the door after Thorn’s exit. He went back to Beth, who sat at the end of the bed. He held her face in his hands and leaned over to kiss her. Her lips were plush and warm. They responded under his, parting to caress his lips. He tasted something sweet, sugary. Was it lip balm? Did she just suck on a piece of candy? He didn’t know, but it heightened his hunger for her. His tongue flicked the inside of her lips. The tip of her tongue came out to tease his. Then her mouth opened, accepting him. He sought the sweetness. It seemed as though her tongue was made of honey. He groaned as he tasted, took.

Beth pulled away, much to his protest. She pushed her body backward across the bed until her back touched the headboard. “We may be stuck here for the night, but we can make it enjoyable,” she tempted.

His breathing was heavy. Every part of his mind seemed hyperaware, aroused. All he wanted was to plunder her mouth. “Why the hell do you taste so sweet?” His voice sounded deep even to his own ears, as if he were a bear roaring at a honey tree, starving for the goods inside. Beth responded to his voice in ways she couldn’t control. Her pupils dilated. Her lips parted. Her legs flinched as her thigh muscles tightened.

“It’s peppermint.” Her voice was breathless.

He didn’t know if peppermint was an aphrodisiac. He knew it stimulated the brain, and damn, he felt stimulated. He crawled over the bed. The closer he got, Beth scooted down, so when his body was poised over hers, they were eye to eye. He lowered himself, but not all the way. The front of his T-shirt fell with gravity and settled over her chest. Propped above her, as if he was holding a push-up, he brought his mouth to hers. He savored the candied taste of her lips, her tongue, her breath. Soft sounds of pleasure purred from Beth as he relished in her flavor.

Beth finally turned her head away, breaking the contact, ending his feast. She panted. Smirking, he nuzzled the side of her neck. His nose moved along her throat. He didn’t touch her skin with his mouth. Instead, he let his nose give her Eskimo kisses.

“Damn,” Beth gasped. “You’ve never kissed me like that before.”

She turned her head, but still didn’t let him have access to her lips. He smelled her skin and moved his nose along her jaw and down the length of her neck. It turned out Eskimo kisses over the body were just as invigorating as the real thing. Her hands slipped beneath his T-shirt and molded to his ribcage. Her nails softly bit him.

“Stay with me, kid, and I’ll kiss you in a million different ways.”

She turned her head back to his. Her eyes were so black they glistened. “I’m in.”

Her word choice only made his arousal stronger. Stripped of their clothes, he hovered over her. He wanted to make love to her in a way they never had before. No, they wouldn’t be trying an outrageous position. What he had in mind would give them a deeper connection. At the moment, he wanted to be as bonded to Beth as was humanly possible.

“Keep eye contact with me…the whole time.” He slipped into her. Her eyes fluttered. “Keep eye contact with me,” he repeated.

Her gaze met his. He could feel her uncertainty at first. Holding someone’s eye contact could be an uncomfortable feeling for most people, but as he stroked inside her, her eyes widened as her pleasure built. He could see her fully let go. She was giving him all of herself. Gazing into her eyes, seeing her changes, only increased his own desire. He breathed with her, inhaling and exhaling to the speed of their love making. He kept his pace slow so he could take it all in—the feel of her and the sight of her. Her mouth opened to release the cries bottled up inside her. Seeing and hearing it made him groan. It was a beautiful thing to witness. Only at the moment of release did they break eye contact.

****

In the morning, Donovan woke excited to leave the cramped motel room and take Beth home. He kissed her shoulder. Her sleeping mouth quirked up at the corners. “Are you ready to go home?”

Her head nodded on the pillow. “Mm-hmm.”

He smiled and kissed the delicious curve of her bare shoulder again. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay.” Beth spoke without opening her eyes. “I’ll make us breakfast.”

The other day, Thorn had dropped off a few groceries for them so they could make breakfast and sandwiches for lunch. Donovan couldn’t wait to have more food to eat than the few items in the fridge. For dinner, he was thinking about steak and potatoes. “Thanks, babe.”

On his way to the bathroom, Beth said, “If I make breakfast, can you do something for me?” She was sitting up in bed, holding the comforter to her chest.

He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Sure.”

She offered him a dazzling smile. “Can you shave?”

Chuckling, he ran his hand over his cheeks. “You don’t like my whiskers?”

“I think you’re handsome either way, but I like to see…and kiss…all of your face.”

He rubbed his jawline. His mouth tilted up. If your wife wanted to kiss your face, then you shaved so she could. He nodded. “I’ll get my razor.”

****

Eggs scented the air when he stepped out of the bathroom. Beth stood in the kitchen with the bedsheet wrapped around her body like a dress. He sucked in a breath between his teeth. “This is a great way to seduce me.”

She turned around. In her hand, she held the spatula.

“Even better,” he said.

She peered at the spatula and threw her head back in laughter. “Very funny.” She sauntered up to him. With her other hand, she caressed his smooth cheek. Then she pressed her cheek to his. “Mm. I like this a lot.”

“And I like this a lot.” His hands molded to her hips. “I’d like it even more if it was off.” His fingers reached for the knot of fabric between her breasts.

Beth swatted his hand and slunk from his reach. “Thorn will be here soon, and I need to take a shower.” She slid eggs onto a plate. “You can eat. I had a piece of toast.”

“Not hungry?”

“Not really. The smell of the eggs is actually making me a little queasy.” She waved her hand in the air. “It’s nothing. I get nauseas sometimes before my period.”

Donovan frowned and put his arms around her. “Maybe that stomach bug you had isn’t fully gone.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

But he didn’t remove his arms as he continued to study her face. She didn’t look sick. Her face wasn’t pale. Her eyes sparkled, and there was a touch of pink to her cheeks.

She placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Seriously, I’m okay. I’m going to shower.”

He reluctantly released her. While she showered, he ate his eggs and toast and then gathered items from around the motel room. He set the duffle bags and backpack on the bed and started to pack for their return home. What would they do to stay safe while at home? Sure, they had an advanced security system, but that wouldn’t stop Viper from breaking into their house.

He wished they had a panic room, but he didn’t have the kind of money it would cost to build one. Donovan lowered onto the edge of the bed as he thought about what they could do if Viper came for them at home. Without police posted outside, they’d be on their own. Only one defensive tactic came to mind—fight. Followed by another—kill. Viper would try to do that, so they’d have to do the same.

Beth came out of the bathroom wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. Her hair was in a high ponytail that swayed as she moved. She picked up her sneakers and sat down on the bed next to him to slip her feet into them. “I’m going to go checkout and return the room key. Thorn should be here in a minute.” She tucked the baseball hat Donovan had worn onto her head and took a step toward the door.

“Wait.” Donovan pounced to his feet. He went to the corner where Thorn had sat during the first night they were there. He scanned the parking lot. A cop car was still sitting across the way, in full view of their room. The rest of the parking lot was empty. He shifted to get a good view of the sidewalk that led to the right. A few rooms down sat the reception room. He would be able to keep an eye on her the whole way there.

He nodded. “Okay. I’m going to watch you.”

“You mean, make sure I’m not kidnapped again?”

His gaze flicked to her. “That’s not funny.”

“You have to admit, though, I have an impressive streak.”

“Still not funny.”

“I know. It was a pathetic attempt at lightening the situation.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She unlocked the door, stepped out, and shut the door behind her.

She walked along the sidewalk at a steady pace. Her head stared straight ahead. He was proud of her for not looking around and tipping off anyone who could be scrutinizing her. She got to the reception room and entered it, moving out of Donovan’s line of sight. He glanced at the cop car, satisfied they’d monitor her return.

He unceremoniously stuffed their dirty clothes into the duffle bags and zipped them closed. The final item he had to pack was his laptop, which he slipped into the backpack. He piled their luggage beside the door.

Our guns. He had almost forgotten about them. He took a step toward the headboard, but a knock on the door made him stop. That was fast. At the door, he peered through the peep hole. Beth wasn’t on the other side, though. It was Thorn. Donovan took off the chain, spun the deadbolt between his fingers, and opened the door.

Thorn’s hands were lifted on either side of his head. The stance amused Donovan. “What are you surrendering for?” he snorted.

Thorn’s dark gaze penetrated Donovan. The despair there struck Donovan in the chest. Thorn’s head marginally shook from side to side. His eyes shifted to the right.

Donovan’s spine straightened. Ice laced his vertebrae. His hand went cold around the door handle. The barrel of a gun came into view from behind the wall and touched the right side of Thorn’s head. Another barrel appeared from the left.

Donovan swallowed. His heart pummeled his chest like a sledge hammer trying to break through a concrete wall. A shape shifted into his line of sight. His gaze latched onto Viper as he stepped from behind Thorn, placing yet another gun to Thorn’s head.

“He’s surrendering to me,” Viper sneered.

Donovan prayed Beth had caught sight of what was happening and had sought refuge in the reception room. He wanted her to stay away. Far away. He looked past Viper to the cop car. Behind the windshield, the two cops were motionless.

“Don’t worry about them,” Viper said. “They’re dead.” He moved the gun from the back of Thorn’s head to over his shoulder, pointing it at Donovan. “Invite us in, so we can get this over with.” He jabbed the barrel into Thorn’s head again, knocking Thorn’s head forward. “Or I’ll blow out his brains. If I’m lucky, the bullet will take you out, too.”

Donovan took a step back. He had no other choice.

Two men forced Thorn in. One had dreadlocks to his shoulders—Omar. The other had a short afro—Anthony. They were the cousins Beth had identified. Omar redirected his aim toward Donovan. He refused to put his hands in the air, but he let the man muscle him into the kitchen. When he was pushed toward the table, he tried to go to the middle chair where the gun was hidden, but the man shoved him into the adjacent chair. Anthony pushed Thorn into the opposite chair. Neither of them would be able to reach the gun without them noticing.

“I’m sorry, Goldwyn, they snuck up on me,” Thorn said.

“Shut up!” Anthony rammed the butt of his gun into the back of Thorn’s head. Thorn cursed and winced from the pain, but he kept his shoulders back, his spine straight, and his head up. “No one said you could talk, pig.”

Viper leaned against the kitchen counter. He crossed his legs and held his wrist over his belt, so his gun was always visible.

Viper smirked at Donovan, revealing a gold canine tooth. Donovan thought about punching him until that tooth fell out of his mouth. Oh, how badly he wanted to do that. “We’ll just wait here for Beth to return,” he said. “And I know she’ll be back.”

“How’d you kill those two cops?” Donovan asked.

“Easy. Their windows were rolled down. We snuck up and popped a bullet into their skulls.” He lifted his gun to mimic the action. “Bang, bang.” He laughed. “A better question you should ask yourself is how we knew you were here.”

Donovan didn’t give him the satisfaction of asking.

Viper turned his leer toward Thorn. His gold tooth flashed in the fluorescent lighting.

“The detective here led us straight to you.”

Donovan’s gaze shifted to Thorn. Thorn’s jaw was tight. His hands were balled into fists on the tabletop. Donovan knew Thorn was mentally beating himself up for failing.

“I couldn’t find you until we decided to tail your friend.” Viper’s smirk widened. “I saw your government license plate, so I hunted for your car in the P.D.’s parking lot. When you came and went, I was behind you every single time, but not the same vehicle each time. These boys know how to pick up discreet vehicles.”

Omar and Anthony laughed.

“You had no idea you were being followed,” Viper told Thorn. “Cops never think criminals can or will get so close, and that was your downfall.”

Viper faced Donovan. “He came here every day before and after work. Either he was getting laid, or he was stashing his friends. Then I saw Beth through the opening as this dumbass left last night. It’s too bad you hadn’t left a moment ago. I could’ve offed her, and you’d still be alive.” He studied his silver gun. “I guess it’s better this way.” He grinned. “No loose ends.”

Donovan tried to move his hand from his lap toward the gun, but when his arm started to stretch more than he wanted it to, he had to stop. He couldn’t afford to make a stupid move or let Viper know they had a weapon beneath the very table at which they sat.

His heart fell into his gut when he heard the door open.

Beth!